Training station and fitness station comprising the training station

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a training station comprising a standing mat, a training device, a control unit, and a display unit. The standing mat comprises a sensor for generating a real-time standing signal depending on the position of at least one foot on the standing mat. The training device comprises a gripping means that is prestressed with a prestress, wherein said gripping means can be seized by the training person with one hand for training purposes and can be moved and/or held in a free manner against the prestress, and further comprises a position sensor for generating a real-time position signal depending on the position and/or the temporal position change of the gripping means relative to the standing mat. The control unit is equipped to receive the real-time standing signal and the real-time position signal, to define a target position range depending on the real-time standing signal, and to generate a real-time control signal depending on a comparison of the real-time position signal with the target position range to determine whether the current position and/or the current temporal position change of the gripping means are within the target position range. The display unit is equipped to receive the real-time control signal and make it available in a recognizable manner to the training person.

A training station, and fitness station having said training station

The invention relates to a training station, and a fitness station having said training station.

The use of a training device for the purpose of engaging in athletic activity is known, wherein said training device is provided for in-house training of a person training. A training device can be, by way of example, a bicycle, a treadmill, a step machine, or an elliptical trainer, wherein the person training can improve his/her endurance by means of the training device. For the purpose of strengthening corresponding muscle groups of the person training, suitable devices include a leg press, a bench, or a rowing machine. The exercises undertaken by the person training on the exercise machine are particularly suited for an athletic activity in general, or are selected in consideration of medical and physiotherapeutic goals. If the exercises are not performed by the person training according to expert specifications, it is possible that the desired results of training will not be achieved, and the person training can incur physical damage. For this reason, it is necessary for the person training to be instructed and supervised during the exercises by an expert, such as a trainer, a physiotherapist, or a doctor, for example, in order to constantly ensure that the person training satisfactorily executes the exercises. In addition, it is frequently not possible for the person training, wherein the same is unpracticed, to adequately supervise the exercises he or she executes, such that the person training may execute the exercises in an uncontrolled, inexact, or even improper manner. This problem particularly arises in cases where the exercise performed by the person training is not prespecified and guided by the training device, but rather must be coordinated by the person training. This is particularly the case when a dumbbell is used as the training device, wherein the same is commonly gripped by the hand, if it is a dumbbell, or by two hands, if it is a bar bell, and the exercise can in principle consist of any possible movement of the dumbbell which can be the result of any anatomically- and physiologically-possible movement of the hands and the arms of the person training. As such, during the exercise using the dumbbell, the person training can very easily deviate from a prespecified movement path, such that during the exercise the actual position and the actual movement path of the dumbbell deviates too severely from the target position and the target movement path thereof. In the case of the exercise using the dumbbell, and also in all exercises having freely executed movements of the hands, the standing position of the person training is important for the execution of the exercise. For example, if the person training is standing with his or her feet shoulder-width apart, or in a stepping position, the target position and the target movement path can accordingly be made dependent on this standing position.

The observation provided by expert personnel in a fitness center or a therapeutic medical practice for the purpose of monitoring and instructing the person training is costly and personnel-intensive. In addition, because of the physical presence of the expert personnel, more space is required than would be if the person training would perform the exercise alone. However, if the person training performs the exercise without guidance, he or she is subject to the danger of performing the exercise in a manner which is insufficient with respect to athletic or therapeutic considerations.

The problem addressed by the invention is that of creating a training station and a fitness station which enable the person training to train in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

The training station according to the invention has a standing mat, a training device, a controller unit, and a display unit. The standing mat, on which the person training stands with at least one foot while training, has a stance sensor to generate a real-time stance signal according to the position of the at least one foot placed on the standing mat when the person training is standing thereon. The training device has a grip device which is pretensioned with a pretensioning force. The grip device can be gripped by a hand of the person training, and can move freely and/or be held in place when force is applied against the pretensioning force. The training device also has a position sensor for the purpose of generating a real-time position signal according to the position and/or the change in position over time of the grip device relative to the standing mat. The controller unit is set up to receive the real-time stance signal and the real-time position signal, to define a target position range according to the real-time stance signal, and to generate a real-time control signal according to a comparison of the real-time position signal with the position target range, wherein the comparison determines whether the current position and/or the current change of position over time of the grip device is/are within the position target range. The display unit is set up to receive the real-time control signal and to make the same visible for the person training, in a recognizable manner. The fitness station according to the invention has a central unit with a plurality of the training stations, wherein the central unit is set up to communicate with the controller units of the training stations, such that data for defining the target position range can be transmitted to the individual controller units.

As such, the person training is able to use the training station according to the invention to determine whether he or she has achieved his or her training goal during training, without the person training being guided by an expert. In this way, the person training is encouraged during training to engage directly in his performance of the training exercises. The display unit in this case provides feedback to the person training by means of the real-time control signal, indicating whether the execution of the exercise can be considered adequate. By means of the fitness stations according to the invention, it is possible to coordinate the training of multiple persons along with their training stations, such that it is possible to carry out a group training by using the fitness station according to the invention, wherein said group training is personally customized to the individual persons training, thereby making it possible to increase the motivation of the individual persons training. The controller units together with the central unit assume the coordination and supervising role, and it is not necessary for expert personnel to be present during the performance of the training. As such, the training station according to the invention and the fitness station according to the invention enable an effective training even though the deployment of personnel, and therefore the personnel costs as well, are minimal.

The controller unit is preferably set up to evaluate repetitions of the training exercise in such a manner that only those repetitions are counted wherein the current position and/or the current change in position over time of the grip device during said repetitions lie within the target position range. In this case, it is preferred that the controller unit is set up to provide a previously determined maximum count of repetitions by means of the display unit, wherein the maximum count is adjusted according to the quality rate of the repetitions with respect to the position and/or the change in position over time of the grip device. In this way, the person training is advantageously conditioned with the training station according to the invention as regards the quality of the exercises performed by the person training. As a result, the possibility is created of allowing the person training to exercise longer in correspondence with the poor quality rate, such that the person training experiences more rapid training results. In addition, by means of the training station according to the invention, the possibility arises of reacting to the poor quality rate as indicative of a poor daily performance by the person training, and then of adjusting the training in response. In addition, it would also be possible by means of the training station according to the invention to react to a high quality rate in such a manner that the person training is no longer under-challenged by the current exercise, and, for the purpose of generating rapid training results, the maximum count of repetitions is then increased for the current exercise, and optionally the target position range is accordingly adjusted.

The training station preferably has a marking unit, wherein the previously determined position of the at least one foot of the person training can be displayed on the surface of the standing mat by means of said marking unit. In this case, the controller unit is preferably set up to compare the current position of the at least one foot to the previously determined position, and to accordingly adjust the real-time control signal if the comparison produces the result that the current position of the at least one foot differs from the previously determined position. In this way, the position of the foot of the person training on the standing mat is incorporated by means of the training station according to the invention into the conception of the training, with respect to the maximum count of repetitions and the target position range. In addition, the use of the marking unit ensures that the person training has a stable stance during training when the position of the at least one foot of the person training is accordingly specified.

The display unit is preferably an optical display or a haptic output device, and is preferably arranged in the standing mat or in the grip device. The person training receives constant feedback by means of the display device regarding the quality of his execution of the exercise. By means of the corresponding display of the real-time control signal, the person training receives information on whether, and to what extent, he must correct the progression of his exercises with regard to the position and the change in position of the grip device. The position sensor is preferably integrated into the grip device, and the controller unit is preferably integrated into the standing mat. A location outside the grip device can be provided in the configuration for the position sensor if the configuration enables a corresponding coupling between the position sensor and the grip device for the purpose of detecting the position and/or the change in the position over time of the grip device. The controller unit can also be included outside of the standing mat, although in this case the training station would then have an additional component compared to the integral arrangement. The position sensor preferably has a gyroscope or a CCD camera.

The controller unit preferably has a processor and a storage device. In this case, the training station preferably has an input device for the inputting of data into the storage device. The training station also preferably has a transponder for the inputting of data to the processor. In this way, the configuration makes it advantageously possible to input, by way of example, a previously determined maximum count of repetitions of an exercise, along with the associated target position range, by means of the input device. By means of the transponder, it can be possible to identify a person training, for example in a configuration utilizing RFID technology. Then, according to this identification, data relating to the previously determined maximum count of repetitions of an exercise, and data for the purpose of defining the associated target position range, can be called up from the storage device and processed by the processor. Additional possibilities for inputting data by means of the input device and by means of manipulation of the processor via the transponder can be contemplated, as can additional possibilities for cooperation between the storage device and the processor, for the purpose of providing the person training with an exercise profile which is individually customized to him or her.

The training device is preferably a dumbbell, wherein the dumbbell grip thereof is the grip device, or is a traction device, wherein the traction grip thereof is the grip device. Freely executed exercises are performed by the person training, both with the dumbbell and also the traction device, wherein the monitoring and conditioning of said exercises can be carried out by the training station according to the invention, incorporating information on the standing position of the person training.

The central unit of the fitness station is preferably set up to communicate with a plurality of controller units, such that it is possible to control a training sequence for the one or multiple people training when the same are training with multiple training stations. In this case, the construction of the fitness station is preferably such that the multiple training stations are arranged around the central unit, by way of example in a circle, such that the persons training can switch from one of the training stations to the next training station by moving around the central unit during the training sequence. In this case, it is preferably possible for the central unit to additionally provide the person training with visual and/or acoustic signals, wherein this makes it possible to display to the person training the point in time when such a switch should take place from one training station to the neighboring training station, in a clockwise fashion. The central unit can also preferably communicate with the training station in such a manner that the person training can begin his training sequence at any training station, and can then continue the training sequence by switching to one of the other training stations upon being prompted to do so.

The central unit can preferably be designed as a column, wherein a film sequence is shown on the outer surface thereof to the persons training, for example during training. The film sequence can be an advertising commercial, such that it is possible to transmit an advertising message to the persons training during the training. The central unit can preferably communicate with the plurality of controller units in such a manner that the display devices of selected training stations can be controlled by the central unit. As such, it is possible to display to the persons training, for example by means of optical signals of the display devices, if the display devices are optical devices, that it is time to switch between the training stations as part of a circuit training.

Preferred embodiments of a training station according to the invention and a fitness station according to the invention are explained below with reference to the attached schematic illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective drawing of a first embodiment of the training station according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective drawing of a second embodiment of the training station according to the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a perspective drawing of a dumbbell according to the embodiment in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 shows a principle schematic drawing of the construction of the training station.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a training station 1 has a standing mat 2, wherein a person training 11 stands on the same. In addition, the training station 1 has a dumbbell 3 which is composed of a dumbbell grip 4 and two dumbbell weights 5. The embodiment of the training station 1 shown in FIG. 2 has a traction device 6 in place of the dumbbell 3, wherein said traction device 6 is composed of a traction grip 7, a cable 8, and a pulley 9, as well as a counterweight 10. The dumbbell 3 shown in FIG. 1 is moved by the person training 11 against the force of gravity, and held. Similarly, the traction device 6 shown in FIG. 2 is moved and held by the person training 11 against the force of gravity of the counterweight 10, which is transmitted via the cable 8 and the pulley 9 to the traction grip 7. The person training 11 has a first foot 12 and a second foot 13, as well as a hand 14. The person training grips the dumbbell grip 4 according to FIG. 1, and/or the traction grip 7 according to FIG. 2, by means of said hand 14.

The standing mat 2 has a first illumination marking 15 and a second illumination marking 16, wherein the first illumination marking 15 displays the target position of the first foot 12 of the person training 11 on the standing mat 2, and the second illumination marking 16 displays the target position of the second foot 13 of the person training 11 on the standing mat 2. The person training 11 stands on the standing mat 2 according to the target positions displayed by the illumination markings 15, 16, such that the first foot 12 is arranged on the first illumination marking 15, and the second foot 13 is arranged on the second illumination marking 16.

As is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a position sensor 19 is built into the dumbbell grip 4 of the dumbbell 3 for the purpose of determining the position and/or the change in position over time of the dumbbell 3 and/or the dumbbell grip 4. Similarly, FIG. 2 shows the position sensor 19 built into the traction grip 4 of the traction grip device 6. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a storage device 22 and a processor 24 are built into the standing mat 2, forming a controller unit 21. Furthermore, the configuration includes a visual display 26, a keyboard 27, and a transponder 28 in the standing mat 2.

A schematic construction of the training station 1 is shown in FIG. 4. The dumbbell grip 4 of the dumbbell 3 and/or the traction grip 7 of the traction device 6 each have a position sensor 19. A real-time position signal 20 is generated by the position sensor 19 in real time according to the current position and/or the current change in position over time of the dumbbell grip 4 and/or of the traction grip 7 relative to the standing mat 2. The real-time position signal 20 is relayed to the controller unit 21, the same being built into the standing mat 2. The transmission of the real-time position signal 20 by the position sensor 19 to the controller unit 21 can be realized, by way of example, via a cable connection or a radio connection. The controller unit 21 comprises the storage device 22 and the processor 24, wherein at least one target position range 23 for the real-time position signal 20 is stored in the storage device 22. The target position range 23 is relayed to the processor 24, whereby it can be determined by the processor 24 whether the position and/or the change in position over time according to the real-time position signal 20 of the position sensor 19 lies either inside or outside of the target position range 23. A real-time control signal 25 is generated by means of the processor 24 according to this analysis, and said real-time control signal 25 contains information regarding whether the real-time position signal 20 lies within the target position range 23. The real-time control signal 25 is relayed to the visual display 26, wherein the real-time control signal 25 is conveyed to the person training 11 by means of said visual display 26, such that the person training 11 receives information regarding whether the training exercise he is currently performing with the dumbbell 3 and/or with the traction device 6 is appropriate with respect to the movement path of his hand 14.

The stance sensor 17 determines which positions the feet 12 and 13 of the person training assume on the standing mat 2 during the training. According to the actual positions detected by the stance sensor 17, a real-time stance signal 18 is generated by the stance sensor 17, and this signal is relayed to the controller unit 21. The target position range 23 is defined according to the real-time stance signal 18, such that it is possible for the person training 11 to carry out an exercise with the dumbbell 3 and/or with the traction device 6, wherein said exercise is customized to his current stance on the standing mat 2.

The keyboard 27 is coupled to the controller unit 21, such that it is possible to input one or more target position ranges 23 to the storage unit 22 by means of the keyboard 27. The transponder 28 is likewise coupled to the controller unit 21, and the transponder 28 is also coupled to both the storage unit 22 and the processor 24. By means of the transponder 28, it is possible, and by way of example with additional reliance on RFID technology, to select a target position range 23 from the storage unit 22 for the person training 11 when data is accordingly input to the processor 24, and to make the comparison which is carried out in the processor 24 between the real-time position signal 20 and the target position range 23 available. In addition, the illumination markings 15, 16 can be controlled by the processor 24, whereby it is possible to prespecify the target positions for the feet 12, 13 of the person training 11 on the standing mat 2.

For the purpose of configuring the training station 1 for an individual person training 11, a previously determined target position range 23 can be input into the storage device 22 by means of the keyboard 27, for example. In the event that the person training 11 approaches, carrying a communication means (not shown) which can communicate with the transponder 28 in such a manner that the person training 11 is thereby identified, then it is possible for the target position range 23 which is specifically provided for the individual person training 11 to be made available, by means of the transponder 28 controlling the storage unit 22 and the processor 24. The illumination markings 15, 16 are activated according to this target position range 23, whereby the person training 11 is then informed how to position his feet 12, 13 on the standing mat 2. The actual position of the feet 12, 13, of the person training 11 on the standing mat 2 is detected by the stance sensor 17; according to the actual position of the feet 12, 13 on the standing mat 2, and in the event that these positions do not agree with the target positions prespecified by the illumination marking 15, 16, the target position range 23 is then corrected by the processor 24. If the person training 11 performs the desired exercise, then the real-time signal 20 with information on the current position and the current change in position over time of the dumbbell grip 4 and/or of the traction grip 7 is transmitted to the controller unit 21 by the position sensor 19. A quantitative and/or qualitative comparison carried out by the processor 24, to determine whether the real-time position signal 20 is within the corrected target position range 23, results in the real-time control signal 25. If the real-time control signal 20 does not lie within the corrected target position range 23, then the real-time control signal 25 is constructed in such a manner that, by way of example, the visual display 26 is illuminated in red. In this way, the person training 11 sees that he is not performing his exercise as desired, and can then accordingly correct his execution in the subsequent repetitions of the exercise. If the person training 11 then executes his exercise in such a manner that the real-time position signal 20 is within the corrected target position range 23, the visual display 26 then, by way of example, is illuminated in green. In this way, the person training 11 is informed that he has executed his exercise as desired. The processor 24 is furthermore designed in such a manner that it can use the real-time position signal 20 to count the repetitions of the exercise. In addition, the processor 24 can optionally be adjusted such that continued counting only proceeds if a repetition of the exercise is carried out in such a manner that the real-time position signal 20 is within the corrected target position range 23.

A fitness station (not shown) has a plurality of the training stations 1. A fitness station has a central unit which is designed, by way of example, as a column. In a training studio, the column is arranged, by way of example, in the middle, and the training stations 1 are arranged around the column in a circle, equidistant from the column. The central unit is set up such that it communicates with the controller units 21 of the training stations 1. This communication can be realized, by way of example, via the transponder 28 and/or via a cable connection and/or via a radio connection. The central unit can be manipulated by a trainer, whereby it is possible, by way of example, to input the target position range 23 for the storage devices 22 of the training stations 1. In addition, a manipulation of the processors 24 of the training stations 1 can be carried out by means of the central unit such that the configuration enables a coordinated training of multiple persons training 11, the same using the training stations 1, with the visual displays 26 thereof being controlled. 

1. A training station having a standing mat (2) for the purpose of a person training (11) to stand thereon with at least one foot (12, 13) during the training, said standing mat (2) having a stance sensor (17) for the purpose of generating a real-time stance signal (18) according to the position of the at least one foot (12, 13) on the standing mat (2) while the person training (11) is standing thereon; having a training device (3, 6) which comprises a grip device (4, 7) which is pretensioned with a pretensioning force, and which can be gripped for the purpose of training by a hand (14) of the person training (11), and which can move freely and/or can be held against the pretensioning force, the training device (3, 6) also having a position sensor (19) for the purpose of generating a real-time position signal (20) according to the position and/or to the change in position over time of the grip device (4, 7) relative to the standing mat (2); having a controller unit (21) which is set up to receive the real-time stance signal (18) and the real-time position signal (20), and to define a target position range (23) according to the real-time stance signal (18), and to generate a real-time control signal (25) according to a comparison of the real-time position signal (20) to the target position range (23), wherein said comparison determines whether the current position and/or the current change in position over time of the grip device (4, 7) is/are within the target position range (23); and having a display device (26) which is set up to receive the real-time control signal (25) and provide the same in a recognizable manner to the person training (11).
 2. A training station according to claim 1, wherein the controller unit (21) is set up to evaluate the repetitions of a training exercise in such a manner that only the particular repetitions are counted for which the actual position and/or the actual change in position over time of the grip device (4, 7) during said repetitions lie(s) within the target position range (23).
 3. A training device according to claim 2, wherein the controller unit (21) is set up to output a previously determined maximum number of repetitions by means of the display unit (26), wherein the maximum number is adjusted according to the quality rate of the repetitions with respect to the position and/or the change in position over time of the grip device (4, 7).
 4. A training station according to claim 1, wherein the training station (1) has a marking unit (15, 16), wherein a previously determined position of the at least one foot (12, 13) of the person training (11) can be displayed on the surface of the standing mat (2) by means of said marking unit (15, 16).
 5. A training station according to claim 4, wherein the controller unit (21) is set up to compare the current position of the at least one foot (12, 13) to the previously determined position, and to accordingly adjust the real-time control signal (25) if the comparison produces the result that the current position of the at least one foot (12, 13) is different from the previously determined position.
 6. A training station according to claim 1, wherein the display unit (26) is a visual display or a haptic display, and is arranged in the standing mat (2) or in the grip device (4, 7).
 7. A training station according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor (19) is integrated into the grip device (4, 7), and the controller unit (21) is integrated into the standing mat (2).
 8. A training station according to claim 1, wherein the controller unit (21) has a processor (24) and a storage device (22).
 9. A training station according to claim 8, wherein the training station (1) has an input device (27) for the inputting of data to the storage unit (22).
 10. A training station according to claim 8, wherein the training station (1) has a transponder (28) for the inputting of data to the processor (24).
 11. A training station according to claim 1, wherein the training device is a dumbbell (3) and the dumbbell grip (4) thereof is the grip device, or the training device is a traction device (6) and the traction grip (7) is the grip device.
 12. A training station according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor (19) has a gyroscope or a CCD camera.
 13. A fitness station having a central unit and having a plurality of training stations according to claim 1, wherein the central unit is set up to communicate with the controller units (21) of the training stations (1), such that data used to define the target position range (23) can be transmitted to the individual controller units (21).
 14. A fitness station according to claim 13, wherein the central unit is set up to communicate with the plurality of controller units (21), such that it is possible to control a training sequence for the one or multiple persons training (11) when the same are training with multiple training stations (1). 